Water-heater.



H. S. HUMPHREY.

I WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION-FILED MAY 3!, l9l3.

' mmm Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

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WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1913 Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

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HERBERT S. HUMPHR-EY, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

WATERHEATER.

menses.

Application filed May 31, 1913. Serial No. 771,058.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. HUM- PHREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in water heaters.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved Water heater which is very efiicient, and at the same time, economical in fuel consumption. Second, to provide in a water heater an improved boiler unit. Third, to provide an improved water heater in which the fuel is entirely controlled by thermostatic means. Fourth, to provide an improved water heater having a plurality of burner units in which the fuel for such burner units is independently controlled by thermostatic means so that one.

or more of the burner units are supplied with fuel or all may be cut off. Fifth, to provide in a water heater, an improved valve mechanism.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a detail view of a structure embodying the features of my invention, the casing being shown mainly in vertical section. Fig. H is a detail vertical section through the valve. Fig. 111 is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. I. Fig. IV is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 14 of Fig. I. Fig. V is a vertical section through one of the boilers. on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. I. Fig. V1 is a detail vertical section of a modified structure, in which coils are substituted for the upper boilers shown in Fig. I.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

1 have not, in the accompanying drawing,

' valve casing by the pipe 8. The pipes 5 and 6 are provided with valves 9 and 10 by means of which either or both of the burner units may be cut off entirely.

The valve casing is provided with an inlet 11 which delivers into the casing between the valve seats 12 and 13. The pipes 5 and 6 are connected to the valve casing on the outer sides of these valve seats, while the pilot conduit or pipe 8 is connected between the valve seats so that the gas is constantly supplied thereto. The valve 14 is provided for the pilot burner pipe 8. These valves in the pipes leading to the burner units and to the pilot burner may be adjusted to regulate the fiow of gas. The valves 17 and 18 are arranged to seat in the same direction. The valve 18 is provided with a tubular stem 19 arranged through the head or cap 20 of the valve casing 4 to reciprocate and be guided therein.

The valve 18 is held normally seated by means of the spring 21.

The valve 17 is provided with a stem 22 which is arranged through the valve 18 and through the tubular stem 19 to project from its outer end. The valve 18 is provided with a packing 23 for the stem 22. The valve 17 is held yieldinglv on its seat by means of the coiled spring 24 arranged between the valves, as shown in Fig. HI.

The spring 21 is of greater strength than the spring 24, so that the spring 24 collapses as the stem 22 is actuated until the actuating member 25 on the stem 22 engages the valve 19. This actuating member 25 is preferably adjustable to regulate the amount of the opening valve 17 prior to the opening valve 18.

The valves are actuated by means of the thermostat, the thermostat lever 26 being fulcrumed at 27 and forked to engage the stem, as shown in Fig. 11. As the structural details of the thermostat form no part of this invention I do not illustrate or describe such details herein.

The thermostat tubes or expansion members 28 are arranged in the extensions 29 of the bottom boiler 30. The boilers 30 are preferably flat and circular as shown, and the extensions 29 are formed or cast integrally therewith. The thermostat tubes or expansion members 28 are arranged in the extensions through the body portion of the boiler. The top and bottom walls of the boiler are convex and the boilers are provided with extension flanges 31 at their edges and radially disposed fins 32 on their bottom walls which extend onto the flanges, as clearly shown in the drawing. The inner ends of these fins are preferably spaced, as shown, so that there is an open space at the bottom of each boiler. The burners of the inner unit 2 are positioned so as to deliver against this space. The burners of the outer unit 3 are positioned so as to deliver between the radial fins. The boilers are arranged in a vertical series within the casing with their extensions 29 through the walls of the casing, as shown, the walls forming supports for the boilers. The flanges of alternate boilers are preferably cut away at 33 to permit a freer passage of the hot gases and products of combustion, the outer edges of the flanges being adjacent to but spaced from the walls of the casing. There is a tendency for the gases to travel to the center of the casing so that the gases passing over the edges of the flanges strike against the bottom wall of the boiler above and pass over the edges of its flanges. The walls of the boilers are comparatively thin, but are well supported and braced by the heat absorbing fins and flanges. The boilers are connected by the pipes 34 arranged alternately so that a zigzag passage is secured through the series of boilers, the inlet connection 35 being made to the upper boiler and the outlet connection 36 to the lower boiler.

In the-modification shown in Fig. VI, coils 37 are used in connection with the lower boiler'30 in which the thermostat expansion members are arranged. In other respects, this structure is the same as that of Fig. I. This combination of the boiler 30 and the coils is a very eflicient and desirable one. The arrangement of the thermostat expansion members Within the boiler 30 renders the same very sensitive,that is, it is positioned in the hottest water and at a point where it'is acted upon most 'quickly when the burners are on.

By means of the separate burner units and the independentcontrol valves therefor, the valves are opened to admit only the required amount of gas to maintain the water at a desired temperature,that is. when the Water falls below a predetermined temperature, the valve 17 is opened to admit gas to the burner unit 2. If the temperature of the water is raised again, the valve 17 is closed, cutting off all the burners. However, if the temperature should fall below another predetermined point, the second valve 18 is opened, admitting gas to the second burner unit and as the temperature of the water rises the valves are successively closed. By this arrangement of parts, I am enabled to effectively control the valves without the employment of a water actuating member, as shown for example in Patent #890,057, issued to me June 9, 1908.

The burners are independently controlled so that, while the water is maintained at the desired temperature only such fuel is consumed as is necessary for the purpose.

The supply of gas to the burners is controlled so that as it is turned off and on a substantially uniform combustible mixture is maintained,-that is, the proportions of air and gas do not vary as in the case of one large valve which is gradually opened to deliver gas to all of the burners. This practically obviates back-firing and also the deposit of carbon, which features are of great advantage where automatic action is desired with a minimum, amount of care and fuel consumption. I

I have illustrated and described my improvements in one of the forms in which I have embodied the same in practice. While other modifications than I have illustrated are possible and the valve mechanism is adapted for other forms of heater boilers, the form illustrated is very advantageous for use in this connection.

This invention is, in some respects, a modification and adaptation of my invention illustrated in my application for patent filed Feb. 20, 1913, Serial Number 749,682.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a water heater, of a thermostat associated therewith; burner units; fuel connections for said burner units including a valve casing provided with valve seats and having a gas supply connection between the valve seats and independent gas deliverytconnections with the burner units at the other sides of the valve seats; valves, the outer valve being provided with a tubular stem and the inner valve with a stem arranged through the outer valve and its tubular stem and provided with an actuating member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being operatively connected to said inner valve stem; a spring for closing said outer valve; and a spring vfor closing said inner valve arranged between said valves, said inner valve spring being of less strength than the said outer valve spring.

2-. The combination with a water heater, of a thermostat associated therewith: burner units; fuel valves, the outer valve being provided with a tubular stem and the inner valve with a stem arranged through the outer valve and its tubular stem and provided with an actuating member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being operatively connected to said inner valve stem; a spring for closing said outer valve; and a spring for closing said inner valve arranged between said valves, said inner valve spring being of less strength than the said outer valve spring.

3. The combination with a water heater, of a thermostat associated therewith; burner units; fuel connections for said burner units including a valve casing provided with valve seats and having a gas supply connection betWeen the valve seats and independent gas delivery connections with the burner units at the other sides of the valve seats; and valves, the outer valve being provided with a tubular stem and the inner valve with a stem arranged through the outer valve and its tubular stem and provided with an actuating member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being operatively connected to said inner valve stem.

4:. The combination with a water heater, of a thermostat associated therewith; burner units; fuel valves therefor, the inner valve being provided with a stem slidably associated with the outer valve and with an actuating member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being operatively connected to said inner valve stem, whereby the valves are successively opened by the thermostat;

a spring for closing said outer valve; anda spring for closing said inner valve arranged between said valves, said inner valve spring being of less strength than the said outer valve spring.

5. The combination with a water heater boiler, of a thermostat associated therewith, a plurality of independent heating burner units for said boiler, fuel connections for said burner units including a valve casing provided with alined valve seats and having a gas supply connection between the valve seats and independent gas delivery connections with the burner units at the other side of said valve seats, valves coacting with said valve seats, the inner valve being provided with a stem slidably associated with the outer valve and with a tappet member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being connected with said inner valve stem whereby the valves are successively opened by the thermostat, a spring disposed between said valves acting to normally seat the inner valve, and a springacting on said outer valve to normally seat the same, such spring being of greater strength than the said spring between said valves.

6. The combination with a water heater boiler, of a thermostat associated therewith, a plurality of independent heating burner units for said boiler, fuel connections for said burner units including a valve casing provided with alined valve seats and having a gas supply connection between the valve seats and independent gas delivery connections with the burner units at the other side of said valve seats, a pilot valve common to said heating burner units connected to said valve casing between said valve seats, valves coacting with said valve seats, the inner valve being provided with a stem slidably associated with the outer valve and with a tappet member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being connected with said inner valve stem whereby the valves are successively opened by the thermostat, a spring acting to normally seat said inner valve, and a spring acting on said outer valve to normally seat the same, such spring being of greater strength than said inner valve seating spring.

7. The combination with a Water heater boiler, of a thermostat associated therewith, a plurality of independent heating burner units for said boiler, fuel connections for said burner units including a valve casing provided with alined valve seats and having a gas supply connection between the valve seats and independent gas delivery connections with the burner units at the other side of said valve seats, valves coacting with said valve seats, the inner valve being provided with a stem slidably associated with the outer valve and with a tappet member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being connected with said inner valve stem whereby the valves are successively opened by the thermostat, a spring acting to normally seat said inner valve, and a spring acting on said outer valve to normally seat the same, such spring being of greater strength than said inner valve seating spring.

8. The combination with a water heater boiler, of a thermostat associated therewith, a plurality'of independent heating burner units, a fuel valve for each bf said units disposed in alinement, the inner valve being provided with a stem slidably associated with the outer valve and with a tappet disopened by the thermostat, a spring for closing said outer valve, and a spring for closing said inner valve, the inner valve spring being of less strength than said outer valve spring.

9. The combination with a Water heater boiler, of a thermostat associated therewith, a plurality of heating burner units, a pilot for said burner units, and a fuel valve for each burner unit, said fuel valves being disposed in alinement, the inner valve being provided with a stem slidably associated with said outer valve and provided with a tappet member disposed to engage the outer valve after the inner valve is opened, said thermostat being operatively connected to said inner valve stem.

10. The combination With a Water heater boiler, of a thermostat subject to the Water of the boiler, a plurality of independent boiler heating burner units having independent gas supply connections, a pilot common to said units and having a gas supply connection independent of the gas supply connections thereof, a fuel valve for each of said heating burner units gas supply connections, operating connections for said thermostat to said valves comprising an actuating member movable with one valve and adapted to act on the other valve to open the same after the first valve is opened whereby the valves are successively opened by the thermostat, and springs for independently seating said fuel valves as the actuating member is retracted.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two Witnesses.

HERBERT S. HUMPHREY.

Witnesses M. PHINA WOODRUFF, ANNIE PARRY. 

